Russia
is to offer Brazil joint development of the Sukhoi T-50 (PAK-FA)
fifth-generation fighter in a bid to secure an order for its Su-35S
“Flanker-E” combat aircraft.A
military delegation is expected to make the offer when it visits the
South American country in the coming days, according to RIA Novosti .

"During
the talks in Brazil, we are ready to offer deliveries of ready-for-sale
advanced aircraft like the Su-35, but also joint development of a
next-generation [combat] aircraft of the T-50 type," the publication
quoted a delegation source as saying.

The
Brazilian Air Force's (Força Aérea Brasileira - FAB) is in the middle
of its F-X2 fighter competition to find a replacement for its ageing
Dassault Mirage 2000 aircraft. Along with the Eurofighter Typhoon and
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Sukhoi Su-35 has already been
axed from the proceedings, leaving the Saab JAS 39 Gripen E, Dassault
Rafale, and Boeing FA-18E/F Super Hornet to battle it out for the 36-jet
tender.

Russia To Offer PAKFA Development to Brazil.

Although the Brazilian government has delayed its
announcement of a winning platform until after the 2014 general
election, it has made it clear that it will not be reopening the
competition to admit new offerings. As such, any Russian bid would need
to be outside the scope of the F-X2 programme.

Brazil”s
National Defence Strategy (NDS) approved in 2008 is inextricably tied
to the National Strategy of Development (NSD), and development of the
country”s indigenous aerospace industry is as important to the
government as fielding a new fighter aircraft. "If we want to have a
strong defence strategy, it has to be with a strong development strategy
to strengthen our defence industrial base. The focus is national
technological independence," General Aprígio Eduardo de Moura Azevedo,
FAB Chief of Staff, said during the IQPC International Fighter
conference in late 2012.While
the Su-35S is a highly capable 4+ Generation platform that employs
fifth-generation systems such as the NIIP Irbis-E passive electronically
scanned array (PESA) radar, any Brazilian interest in the Russian
proposals will likely hinge on the co-development work being offered on
the PAK-FA.India
is already onboard with the Russian programme, which it designates the
Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), or Future Prospective Fighter
(FPF), and with the project in its prototype stage, there is still
plenty of scope for Russia to offer development opportunities to Brazil.